The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-21

III, VINO nau seen so many rich and
cultured people-she grew Jealous OF
every word or look that passed be.
tween them, and she burned to humili.
ate her rival.
II love is blind, jealousy is doubly
so. Eva was not her rival in any sense.
for Allison had only a kindly feeling in
his heart for the fair young stranger,
the glamour OF Bellies beauty still be-
ing around him. Indeed, although moth
ing was said to her about the matter,
She felt sure of his love for Belle; and,
though she wondered in her heart,
that he had not chosen Annie instead,
she never thought OF herself in connec-
ton with the matter. She did admire
him. and liked to have him talk to
| her, and she thought Belle must be
very happy indeed.
The first OF April arrived, and the
family. suspicious and agitated, sat
down to the breakfast table.
| The eggs were passed, but no one
touched them except Eva and little
Isabel. Their temerity was rewarded
by finding them all right. Mrs. Ches-
ter had handed them OUT
Encouraged by this, Will and his
sisters each took one, but found only
the she'll cleverly filled with salt.
! Warned by this, even Isabel did not
! touch the gineer-snaps, and it was as
well, for they had been turned out OF
black walnut in exact imitation OF the
toothsome dalnties which regularly
appeared upon the breakfast table OF
the Chesters.
Ihe coffee was fragrant and excellent,
as usual; the cream neither sailed nor
sour, and the sugar cubes white and
glistening. But no amount OF stirring
| would dissolve them. Extracting his
! with his spoon, Will raped it on the
table.
Marble, girls, sure's your alive"
he cried. "Good for you, mother.
You see, dear" mimicking his mothers
| tone, turning to his cousin, i" the
children are up TO all kinds OF games,
and mother is as much child as any
| OF u.s.
Mrs. Chester laughed and Eva en-
ioyed their jokes immensely. Just
then the letters were brought in. There
were only two, one for Will and one
tor Eva. Will looked dismayed at the
contents OF his, but frightened up al
most Immediately.
"Own up now; which of you wrote
this letter."
Each one solemnly asserted that
they had neither written it nor caused
| it to be written.
"What is it, DEAR" asked his moth
err, anxiously.
Nothing, only one OF our larks
must have got out. The faculty want
my presence Immediately at tie COL
lege to answer certain charges, etc. |
was sure it was an April fool"
"Oh, WILL" exclaimed his mother.
Serves him right" said Belle.
college boys are no better than cubs"
"Thank you, sissy" said Will,
making Il low bow. "Halloo, what is
th's?" gathering up his textbooks and
tind'nga tifty-dollar bill in his Greek.
dispose father sent it, mother?'
"Ask me tomorrow" answered his
mother, trying to be merry, but wor-
ried at her sons difficulty in college.
did you put it there, Eva?"
"Asll me tomorrow" she answered
| exactly as his mother had done.
Belle thrust her hand into her pock-
ct and drew orth an elegant bracelet
yes, two OF them-and she gave a
cry OF pleasure. ooh, who could have
put it there?"
"Allison Foster" suggested Will;
but he did not believe it.
"Pshaw! you know BETTER" said
Belle; but she was pleased with the
suggestion.
"Well, then, guess Eva Atwood"
"Ihat is even more ridiculous, said
she scornfully.
"Then you have found me out.
Spare my bushes, my dear sister. l
earned the money nights. l burned
the midnight oil that you might shine
in the assemblies which your beauty
is we'll fitted to adorn. Don't thank
me your pleasure is enough" said
Will, waving his hand dramatically.
| 81 won't, never fear" said Belle.
shortly. "You couldn't keep money
IN your pocket long enough to buy
them. Father must have sent them
when he did your fifty dollars"
But when Annie found on her table
a splendid encyclopedia, she went
strai sht to Elva and Rugged her en-
Enthusiastically. II know it's you, and
thank you q thousand times" Mrs.
Chester received silver service, and
Isabel q splendid wax doll. with a
Partisan wardrobe. "And there it laid,
the darling! Right in Black Dinah's
cradle, just as natural as mamma, -
cried Isabel, dancing about excitedly.
Black Dinah was the sole survivor OF
a large family of dolls and this new ar
rival was therefore enthusiastically
| welcomed.
Although it is true they all thought
OF Eva as the possible doner, all but
Annie thought it was likely to have
been Mr.. Chester, who was g. CONNER
cial traveller, and often sent home
valuable presents. But who in this
case had distributed them so cunning
ly?
The next day solved the mystery.
Meanwhile Will packed up his books
and sachel, and started off.
Never mind" said he affectionate-
~, patting his mothers face "Maybe
III get off with only reprimand."
But next morning his grinning face
was seen at the breakfast table and
the family discovered tho whole thing
to have been hoax. He chad written
the letter himself and fooled them
most cleverly.
This was the most successful farce
ever acted in the Chester family on All
Fools Day
"But it was cruel WILL" said his
mother, frowning and smiling.
IL know it. ] almost relented doz-
en- times" said he, kissing her.
But Eva, quiet little Eva, had read
and dlgested her letter long ere this.
1t never occurred to her that it was a.
hoax, for she could not conceive of any
one unkind enough to do such a thing.
Still she was not deceived. She did
not believe Allison Foster loved her.
although he told her so in this letter
mo, he does not love me, althou...
he thinks he does; if he did" and IL
blush covered her face and a tender
look stole into her sweet eyes. "No,
he does not. feel something lacking
in the letter. l will not wear the pera-
MUM leaf, but will tell him why. I
will write to him-that will be BEST"